Study on the uniqueness of shrine carvings in early modern Kyushu -the route of transmission.-

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K04823
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 23040:Architectural history and design-related
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: ITO Ryuichi 熊本大学, 大学院先端科学研究部(工), 教授 (80193530)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 彫物 / 江戸時代 / 九州 / 建築 / 伝搬経路

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Carvings (architectural decorations) seen in shrines and other places in the early modern Kyushu region tend to show excellent expressions and techniques earlier than in other regions, so we examined the route of their propagation.The oldest example of thin-walled carving that can be seen in the Kuma region of Kumamoto Prefecture is the carvings of the Odaishido in Yunomae Village by Gaun.
Gaun (Raigen) who lived in the Kanto region, is believed to be a monk associated with Rakuho-ji Temple of the Shingon sect of Buddhism in Ibaraki Prefecture, so the designs and techniques were brought from the Kanto region. Although it was not possible to trace the introduction from Dazaifu, it is assumed that the dragon pillars of Kagoshima were also brought from the Ryukyus and the continent. Large carvings in the northern part of Kumamoto showed a new development after the 18th century, and in Oita City, a new example from the early Edo period using large panel-like carvings was found.

Free Research Field

日本建築史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近世初期に文化的に大きな中心とみなされていた近畿地方ではなく、九州地方に独自の彫物の意匠・技法が伝えられた一つの経路として、琉球等の海外の他に関東地方からであったことを指摘できたことの意義は大きい。一般的には徳川家康が入る前の関東には文化的に見るべきものがないと思われている関東にこれだけの優れた技法・意匠をもった彫物がは含まれていたことは注目に値する。